Valve for gage-cocks.



M. P. SNELL.

VALVE POR GAGE GOCKS.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 17, 1907.

903,1 14. n Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

ff i l I,

narran sTaTns TATnNT armen.

MARO P. SNELL, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

VALVE FOR GAGE-COCKS.

Application filed August 17,

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAP@ P. SNELL, a citizen of the 'United States,residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Valves for Gage-Cocks,of which the following is a specification.

ln the use of gage cocks for steam boilers of the ordinary constructionmuch trouble is experienced by the leakage of the valve caused bysediment or small particles of grit or lime, such as are held insuspension in the water, lodging between the valve and its seat.

The object of my said invention is to provide a valve for gage cocks,and other purposes for which it may be found suitable, by the use ofwhich any foreign substance of the character stated becoming depositedon the valve seat m-ay be readily removed or worn away by themanipulation of the valve itself, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts: Figure lis a side elevation of a gage cock of my improved construction, Fig. 2 avertical longitudinal section through the same, and Fig. 3, a crosssection on the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the side of a boiler7 Bthe gage cock casing, and O the valve.

n use the gage cocks may be arranged as usual, one at each level whereit is ordinarily desired to test the water in the boiler, or othercontainer. Each being a duplicate of the other in construction only onevalve will be illustrated and described. It will be understood, ofcourse, that this invention may be used with any boiler or other fluidcontainer with which it is desired to use a gage cock. A screw-threadedperforation is formed in its side A into which the screwthreaded end ofthe gage cock may be inserted.

The casing B of the gage cock is a casting of suitable form its innerend being screw-threaded and adapted to lit into the screw-threadedperforation in the side of the boiler provided therefor. It is providedwith a central perforation b leading from the valve. seat into theboiler, or other vessel to which it is attached, and a perforation bleads from a point just outside of said valve Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

1907. Serial No. 389,080.

seat at right angles with perforation Z), through said casing, beingpreferably provided with a nipple b2 at the outer end thereof. 'Thevalve seat 3 is formed at the inner end of the perforation Z) and ashort distance outside of said valve seat is formed a shoulder b4. Awasher o is mounted against said shoulder b4 anda gland or stuffing-boxB is inserted in an enlarged perforation in the outer end of said casingB by means of interengaging screw-threads formed on the respectiveparts, said gland being formed with holes 7L at intervals around itsouter end for the engagement of the prongs of a spanner wrench. On theinner end said gland is provided with a packing-ring be, consisting ofany suitable material for the purpose, thus insuring a tight jointbetween the valve stem and said gland. A small chamber is thus formedbetween the valve seat and packing connecting the perforations Z) and b.The outer end B2 of said casing B is formed with an enlarged perforationalso screw-threaded into which the tubular shank of a hollow nut B3 isinserted and said part B2 is connected to the main part B by arms, orside-pieces, bT on opposite sides.

The valve C is preferably a straight rod formed with an inner endadapted to seat snugly upon the valve seat b3 of the casing and having ahand wheel C4 on its outer end. lt passes through the gland B andpacking-ring b on the inner end thereof. At a point normally between theparts B and B2 of the casing it is formed with a screw-threaded portionc on which a nut C is mounted. Said nut C is formed with square ends andfits to slide between the arms or side-pieces ZF. A spring c2 isinterposed between said nut C and the nut the outerl end of said springbeing incased in the tubular portion of said nut B3 and its inner endsurrounding the shoulder C3 on the outer face of said nut. Shoulders bsare formed midway on the adjacent faces of each side-piece 6T againstwhich said nut C may rest at the limit of its inward motion. Thescrew-threaded portion c of the valve stem is slightly larger than itsends, forming a shoulder c5 at the rear end of said portion, which isadapted to strike the inner face of the nut B3 and prevent the valvestem from passing through said nut or being`V blown out of the casingshould the operator carelessly screw the part c out of the nut C.

In operation, the parts being adjusted as shown in Fig. Q with the valveresting upon the valve seat and the gland B screwed into place so as toform a tight joint, the spring c2 bears against the nut C and holds thevalve, which is connected thereto by the screw-threads, to its seat andVthus prevents the water in the boiler from escaping through the nippleb2. When it is desired to open the valve to test the water in theboiler, the valve is backed off its seat by turning the valve stem inthe nut C', by means of hand wheel C4. held against the shoulders 58 bymeans of the .spring c2, the threads c will operate to draw said valveoff its seat, as will be readily understood. If the inner end of thegage cock is still immersed in the water in the boiler the water willthen blow out through the nippleb2, while if the water is below the gagecock the steam will blow out and the engineer' will thus be able to testthe level of the water at any time. After testing the water the operatorturns the hand wheel C4 forward which operates in a like manner to closethe valve. Inasmuch as the nut C is permitted a longitudinal movementbetween the side-pieces 57, sliding from the shoulders bs towardtheouter end of the casing, the operator usually turns the valve in bothopening and closing further than is necessary, there being no Vpositivelimit, so that the motion of the valve continually wears or grinds uponthe seat and keeps it clean, and should any foreign substance becomelodged thereointhe operator by turning the valve back and forth with thespring bearing it against the seat will soon be able to wear thesubstance away so that the valve will seat tightly and prevent anyleakage. lIt will be noticed also that the gland B 'is of a length sothat when withdrawn to the front face of the nut C its forward end withpacking b will be outside of the casing B so that it may be rewound, orthe packing-ring renewed at any time while the boiler is being used andwhile the valve C is closed, for while the valve C is closed said glandmay be turned back without opening the perforation leading into theboiler.

It will be understood that nut C may at any time be run back on thethreaded portion o of the stem C by turning said stem forward, eitherfor the purpose of securing more room in front of ysaid nut forconvenience in placing the packing on the fiont end of gland B or forthe purpose of increasing the tension of spring c2, should itk becomenecessary. The tension of said spring may also be adjusted by themanipulation of nut B3, as will be readily understood. Y

Having thus fully described'my said in- Said nut being ventioii, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apvalve for gage-cocks, ete.,r comprisingk a easing containing avalve seat, a valve stem mounted in said 'casing and `formed with ascrew-threaded portionga Ynut on said screw-threaded portion mountedbetween a .shoulder in said casing on `one'side and a spring on theother side, whereby said valvej may be turned beyond'thepoint of closingagainst said seat, substantially asset forth.

2. In' a gage-cock, the combination, of the casing, a valve thereforcomprising a stein formed with a screw-threaded portion and).l a nutmounted on said screw-threaded por- Y tion between a fixed portion ofsaid casing on one side anda yielding holding device on its oppositeside, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gage-cock, the combination, of the casing, a valve therein,means for holding said valve yieldingly to its seat, and means on itsstein for adjusting and supporting it away from its seat, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a gage-cock, the combination, of the casing, a valve thereinformedy on a stem having a screw-threaded portion, a nut on saidscrew-threaded portion, a spring bearing against the rear side of saidnut for holding the valve to its seat, and rigid abutments on the casingfor limiting the Inove-V inent of the nut toward said seat, substantially as set forth. Y

G. In a gage-cock, the combination, of the casing having a valve seattherein, a valve mounted to be adjusted longitudinally in said easing,saidvalve comprising a rod'or stem with the valve formed on its innerend, a screw-threaded portion midway its length and means for turning iton its outer end, the nut on said screw-threaded portion, another nut inthe outer end of the casing, and a spring interposed betweensaid'nuts,said stem being formed with an enlarged portion which will not passthrough the nut in said casing, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at VashingtonD. C. this 14th day of August, A. D nineteen hundred and seven.

MARO I. SNELL. [ns] Vitnesses z e E. W. BRADFORD, ANNA M. SMALLwooD. Y

